V85® (jackpot): On Saturday, the chase for the Elitloppet spots begins
Spring vibes and top-class finals. C Th Ericssons Memorial is a Gold Division final in Saturday’s V85, where Solvalla kicks off a new initiative with a series of races during the spring that will award two spots in the Elitloppet.
Mellby Jinx is a known quick starter who took the lead in both the elimination and the final of the Elitloppet last year.
"A Fair Day has drawn inside Jinx, which gives him a slight advantage – we’ll see what the tactics will be," says Oskar Florhed, assistant trainer in the Daniel Wäjersten stable.
Solvalla hosts finals in the Swedish Trotting League on Saturday – a real highlight day with a jackpot of SEK 44 million for a sole winner on V85.In the prestigious feature race C Th Ericssons Memorial (V85-7) with SEK 500,000 to the winner, a horse from Kalmar will be the favorite. Elisabeth Almheden’s A Fair Day, fourth in the Elitloppet last year, has started the year in the best way with two wins, taken both from outside the leader and from the lead.
The Kalmar based horse is extremely fast from the start and is the one to beat on Saturday from post two behind the gate.
Daniel Wäjersten’s Mellby Jinx – another proven fast starter – begins from post five.
The stable is keeping its tactics to itself early in the week.
Mellby Jinx at least has his seasonal debut out of the way. His last start was in Gunnar Eggens Minneslopp in Oslo, where Wäjersten’s trotter had post eight behind the gate and finished well to finish fourth after being raced from behind.
"He was very good and it was exactly the kind of race we wanted to give him in his seasonal debut. He had a slightly worse draw and this time he was meant to race from behind and go full speed down the stretch – and he really did. That race should move him forward a lot. He raced barefoot then and will do so again on Saturday. We haven’t fully discussed it yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the pull-down bridle comes on again – last time the horse raced with an open bridle," says Oskar Florhed.
Mellby Jinx wore a pull-down bridle when he stormed to victory in his Elitloppet elimination from the lead and then also took the lead in the final, where the pace proved far too demanding.
The Kalmar horse A Fair Day had a draw outside Mellby Jinx in the Elitloppet clashes and had no say in the battle for the lead then. The aim is likely set on the lead this Saturday instead, from a favorable post two.
Oskar Florhed in Wäjersten’s stable:
"A Fair Day may already be in top form. He has performed incredibly well in his starts this year and now has drawn inside Jinx, which gives him a bit of an advantage. Otherwise, the opposition is a bit mixed and the others are horses we’ve beaten before. But we’ll see. As always, we take one race at a time. Jinx should be among the top three at least. He is a year older now, but he feels at least as good as before. The horse will decide if he is ready for another Elitlopp, if he is back at that level," says Oskar Florhed.
The Kalmar based horse is extremely fast from the start and is the one to beat on Saturday from post two behind the gate.
Daniel Wäjersten’s Mellby Jinx – another proven fast starter – begins from post five.
The stable is keeping its tactics to itself early in the week.
Mellby Jinx at least has his seasonal debut out of the way. His last start was in Gunnar Eggens Minneslopp in Oslo, where Wäjersten’s trotter had post eight behind the gate and finished well to finish fourth after being raced from behind.
"He was very good and it was exactly the kind of race we wanted to give him in his seasonal debut. He had a slightly worse draw and this time he was meant to race from behind and go full speed down the stretch – and he really did. That race should move him forward a lot. He raced barefoot then and will do so again on Saturday. We haven’t fully discussed it yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the pull-down bridle comes on again – last time the horse raced with an open bridle," says Oskar Florhed.
Mellby Jinx wore a pull-down bridle when he stormed to victory in his Elitloppet elimination from the lead and then also took the lead in the final, where the pace proved far too demanding.
The Kalmar horse A Fair Day had a draw outside Mellby Jinx in the Elitloppet clashes and had no say in the battle for the lead then. The aim is likely set on the lead this Saturday instead, from a favorable post two.
Oskar Florhed in Wäjersten’s stable:
"A Fair Day may already be in top form. He has performed incredibly well in his starts this year and now has drawn inside Jinx, which gives him a bit of an advantage. Otherwise, the opposition is a bit mixed and the others are horses we’ve beaten before. But we’ll see. As always, we take one race at a time. Jinx should be among the top three at least. He is a year older now, but he feels at least as good as before. The horse will decide if he is ready for another Elitlopp, if he is back at that level," says Oskar Florhed.
Eyes on Finlandia-Ajo
Last year, Daniel Wäjersten won Finlandia-Ajo with the horse, which meant a direct ticket to the Elitloppet. This year’s edition of Finland’s biggest race is being raced on Saturday, May 10, and once again the winner earns a direct entry to the Elitloppet.
It sounds like the plan is for Mellby Jinx to go to Helsinki again this year.
"It’s a race we’re thinking about again. He likes Finland, the tracks can have sharper turns there, but that’s no problem for Jinx. It’s in the plans with a similar setup as last year if the horse continues to like it," says Florhed.
It sounds like the plan is for Mellby Jinx to go to Helsinki again this year.
"It’s a race we’re thinking about again. He likes Finland, the tracks can have sharper turns there, but that’s no problem for Jinx. It’s in the plans with a similar setup as last year if the horse continues to like it," says Florhed.
The E-races – a new concept
Solvalla’s racing manager Ola Lernå is looking forward to the best race day of the year so far, with STL finals and C Th Ericssons Memorial as the main attraction.
"With two horses already invited to the Elitloppet, a third on the way, and Saturday’s races, it feels like we’re really starting the countdown to the last Sunday in May. It’s a great time ahead of us," says Ola Lernå.
New for this year is that Solvalla introduces the "E-races" ahead of the Elitloppet in May. It consists of seven races during the spring where horses can collect points in the hunt for a spot in the Elitloppet.
The first E-race (a play on the ‘B-races’ in France) will be C Th Ericssons Memorial on Saturday.
"There are several reasons why we wanted to try this. One is that Solvalla has had a few prep races for the Elitloppet where the winner of Meadow Road previously earned a ticket. With this series, we hope to lift the quality of the preparations for the Elitloppet. That there’s more at stake in several races and that they really matter. At the same time, we want to give horses a chance that aren’t obvious invites – meaning horses ranked around 15–16. Now their trainers can actually earn a spot themselves, without waiting for us to say welcome," says Ola Lernå.
Solvalla expects that a couple of horses in the series will most likely receive invitations anyway.
"If we have two already invited, say first and second, when the final E-race has been raced, then we move down the standings. The idea is that the two horses that haven’t been invited but have collected the most points will get a spot. Two horses will qualify from the series regardless."
Who do you think wins "Cetes" on Saturday?
"On paper after the draw, A Fair Day is the clear top pick. You can speculate about the battle for the lead and how the race unfolds, but given the draw, Elisabeth Almheden’s horse is my pick. Then it depends on which tactics Daniel Wäjersten chooses. Mellby Jinx actually took the lead in both the elimination and the final of the Elitloppet last year. He’s an extremely fast starter. A third contender could be Diva Ek, who didn’t seem to enjoy Norway fully last time. The draw is poor, but it will be very interesting to see her."
"With two horses already invited to the Elitloppet, a third on the way, and Saturday’s races, it feels like we’re really starting the countdown to the last Sunday in May. It’s a great time ahead of us," says Ola Lernå.
New for this year is that Solvalla introduces the "E-races" ahead of the Elitloppet in May. It consists of seven races during the spring where horses can collect points in the hunt for a spot in the Elitloppet.
The first E-race (a play on the ‘B-races’ in France) will be C Th Ericssons Memorial on Saturday.
"There are several reasons why we wanted to try this. One is that Solvalla has had a few prep races for the Elitloppet where the winner of Meadow Road previously earned a ticket. With this series, we hope to lift the quality of the preparations for the Elitloppet. That there’s more at stake in several races and that they really matter. At the same time, we want to give horses a chance that aren’t obvious invites – meaning horses ranked around 15–16. Now their trainers can actually earn a spot themselves, without waiting for us to say welcome," says Ola Lernå.
Solvalla expects that a couple of horses in the series will most likely receive invitations anyway.
"If we have two already invited, say first and second, when the final E-race has been raced, then we move down the standings. The idea is that the two horses that haven’t been invited but have collected the most points will get a spot. Two horses will qualify from the series regardless."
Who do you think wins "Cetes" on Saturday?
"On paper after the draw, A Fair Day is the clear top pick. You can speculate about the battle for the lead and how the race unfolds, but given the draw, Elisabeth Almheden’s horse is my pick. Then it depends on which tactics Daniel Wäjersten chooses. Mellby Jinx actually took the lead in both the elimination and the final of the Elitloppet last year. He’s an extremely fast starter. A third contender could be Diva Ek, who didn’t seem to enjoy Norway fully last time. The draw is poor, but it will be very interesting to see her."
The E-races 2026:C Th Ericssons Memorial, Solvalla (March 28), The Onion's Race, Solvalla (April 8), Nuncio's Race, Solvalla (April 22), The Paralympic Trot, Åby (May 9), Meadow Road’s Race, Solvalla (May 13), Milemästaren, Tingsryd (May 16) and Prins Daniel's Race, Gävle (May 23)
Points are awarded to the top six finishers according to the scale 15-8-6-3-2-1
Points are awarded to the top six finishers according to the scale 15-8-6-3-2-1